Silence hangs heavy in the air as they walk on, broken only by the clop clop of their sandals on the rock road. Judith, her head bowed, wrestles with a tempest of emotions. Shame burns in her cheeks at the memory of her brother-in-law's harsh words.

The encounter with the other Jews still sends shivers down her spine. Fear battles with a flicker of curiosity. How can Jews be so different? Those following Jesus exude kindness and acceptance, a stark contrast to the cold, judgmental faces of the men who tried to take her back.

Rachel leaned over and whispered to Joseph. He shook his head slightly, a concerned furrow etching itself between his brows. Judith stole a glance at them, sensing a silent communication she didn't understand. Am I a burden? The thought weighed heavily on her. If she stayed with this group, would they have problems with every Jew they met? But did she have a choice?

The people she was with reflected the Jesus she had met. They were kind, accepting, and full of love. But these other Jews? They were nothing like Jesus. And love seemed to be the last thing on their mind. She was used to their haughty attitude toward non-Jews. But treating their own people this way was on another level of exclusivism and fanaticism.

Rachel looked at Judith and whispered something into Joseph's ear. Joseph shook his head.

"Please," Judith said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "Perhaps it would be best if I returned. Maybe I've caused enough trouble."

Rachel's eyes soften. "Trouble finds us all, Judith," she replied gently. "We stand for things many Jews find difficult to accept. But even our prophets faced rejection, were ostracized, and some even killed."

Judith trudges on, deep in thought. Have I made a terrible mistake? This journey suddenly felt like a giant leap into the unknown. A tremor of fear ran through her.

Simon noticed her dejection and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Judith. In Sidon, there's a welcoming community of Jews and non-Jews who live together in peace and support each other. There aren't many Jews in that area, and they are more open-minded."

"I wouldn't want to be a burden," Judith replies, her voice still laced with anxiety. "How do they manage?"

"Everyone contributes," Simon explained. "Some fish, some tend the nets, some cook, some build. Others teach, spread the word, grow food, and sell goods. We share everything. It's a new way of life, wouldn't you say?"

Judith nodded, her mind reeling. Sharing everything? This was a radical concept, worlds away from her familiar life.

"No," Judith said flatly. This was new to her. But maybe exciting.

Her curiosity sparked, she asked, "How can you live with non-Jews and still follow the Law?"

"Respect for each other's beliefs and traditions is our way, and it works," Sharon chimed in, her voice bright. "We believe in inclusion, not exclusion."

A look of defiance crossed Rachel's face. "We don't have to follow the Law anymore," she declared.

Simon bristled. "Of course we do! We're Jews!"

Rachel stood in front of him, playfully shaking her finger. "The Apostle Paul," she said, her voice taking on a lecturing tone, "Wrote to those who know the Law-that's us, Jews, by the way-saying we were set free from the Law through the body of Christ. We no longer serve under the old law, but under the new Spirit. Following the Law makes Jesus' sacrifice meaningless!"

"If that's true," Simon groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation, "then what's the point of everything? My faith is built on following the Law! It's who I am! It defines me!"

Joseph placed a calming hand on Simon's shoulder. "We become new creations," he said softly. "Part of this new kingdom of God that Jesus spoke of."

Judith felt lost, overwhelmed by this torrent of ideas. A nervous laugh escaped her lips. "This is all too much for me."

The group erupted in laughter, a warm, comforting sound. Sharon soothingly patted her shoulder. "Welcome to the world we live in, Judith," she said. "We Jews love arguing. We're delighted that every concept Jesus presented is a challenge to understand. Even the apostles argue and debate endlessly. God turned a blind eye and let us eat from the tree of knowledge because he knew we wanted to be helpers, so here we are. Even the apostles argue and debate endlessly. God doesn't make things simple, but we believe with all our hearts."

"You're lucky you weren't born a Jew," Rachel remarks with a mischievous grin. "You don't have to deal with the Law."

Judith offered a weak smile. Secretly, she was glad she didn't have to navigate this complex theological debate.

A shiver ran down Judith's spine. The thought of God's wrath filled her with dread. "I feel like God might punish me for abandoning the Law," she confessed, her voice trembling. "Leaving everything I know behind is terrifying. This is what my family believes."

A pang of sympathy crossed the faces of the others. They understood the weight of tradition and the fear of the unknown.

Judith realized what a struggle this was for them. She only knew Jesus.

The afternoon sun was merciless, and the wind had stopped. The area became more hilly. Judith, lost in thought, barely noticed the changing landscape. The weight of the conversation pressed down on her like the merciless sun.

"What was the purpose of the Law?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. The question had been gnawing at her since the encounter with those other Jews.

Rachel's voice, soft and thoughtful, said. "Paul believed the Law was meant to reveal our inherent disobedience," she explained.

Simon saw it differently. "People loved the Law," he insisted, his voice tinged with conviction. "It gave them a sense of purpose, of right behavior and belief that was its own reward."

Jacob, always the mediator, offered a more nuanced perspective. "But the Law became a substitute for true love, compassion, and justice." he said. "Jesus was always reminding us that shiny objects that distract us from what truly matters. What good is it if we obey every spec of the law, but ignore others needs?"

"Yet, Paul also said the Law is good," Simon countered, his voice filled with doubt.

Sharon chuckled, offering a light touch of humor during the serious discussion. "Yes, and he also confessed to being a wretched sinner who does the wrong things.," she pointed out.

Rachel rolled her eyes playfully. "Paul talks in circles," she teased. "He went on endlessly and confused everyone. But I believe the essence of the Law is found within us, not in a set of rules. The law is within us." [Hebrews 8:10]

Judith felt her mind racing. How could the Jewish Law simply be internalized? She knew enough about it to know it was a complex system of rules and regulations, a way of life for centuries.

"What about concrete things like adultery, theft, and lying?" Judith asked, needing clarification. "Aren't those clear-cut violations?"

"We're under grace," Joseph said. "This means we can be forgiven for the wrong things we do."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I understand forgiveness. But what about the law being within?" Judith asked.

"Paul summed it up beautifully," Rachel replied. "Paul said, if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. We know when we do something that hurts others. Hurting others is not love." [Romans 13:8-10]

"You have a point," Judith said.

"Look at it this way," Rachel continued. "What if we shoved poor Judith here into the bushes and left her to the thieves and hunger." She turned to Judith and said, "Of course we wouldn't do that. It's just an example."

Jacob nodded in agreement. "Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan," he began. "A man was beaten and robbed, left for dead. Priests and Levites passed him by, but a Samaritan, considered an outcast by the Jews, stopped to help and took the man to a place to stay and paid for his care and expenses. That's love in action, not just following a law. Tell me this, could there ever be enough laws to cover every situation. No, but love does." [Luke 10:25-37]

Judith felt a shift in her understanding, "I think that makes sense. Simon, if we always act out of love for others, is there any way we can break a commandment?"

Simon considered that for a few moments before answering. "It makes sense, but it doesn't calm my mind about abandoning the law. I just can't quit being a Jew."

"The Sabbath is important to us. Once a week we rest. But Jesus said the Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath." She let that sink in, then continued, "Sometimes we have to do things that aren't restful. If we love others, sometimes we have to do things for them, like help find their animals that have strayed. [Mark 2:27]

"Wife, you're driving me crazy," Simon said with a smile. He gave her a hug. "I don't take change well. You know that. Just let this simmer on the fire for a few days and maybe then I can eat it without heartburn."

They all laughed. Judith was amazed at how easily the women could talk to the men, as if they were equal. Without thinking, she said, "Does Jesus consider us all equal?"

Simon smiled at her. "People might find reasons to make us unequal, but Jesus said, there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; for all are one in Christ Jesus."

Judith stopped in her tracks, stunned. A wave of relief washed over her. This new perspective was liberating. She felt a connection to something deeper, something more profound than just following a set of rules.

The group noticed she had stopped and turned back to her. "The apostles treat us all equally and we get responsibilities according to our abilities, not according to gender," Rachel said.

In tears, Judith fell to her knees. "This man, Jesus, he must be a god and the most compassionate person who ever lived. I want this Jesus in my life."

They all laid their hands on her shoulders. "All you have to do is ask in prayer," Simon said.

"Jesus represents God," Sharon said. "There is God the Father. There is the Spirit of God who guides us. And there is Jesus, the man who is a child of God and who represents God so that we can know God fully."

"Let her take in Jesus before we give her all these confusing details. This is a moment for Judith," Simon said. "It's huge."

Copyright notice: Judith On the Road, Copyright © Dorian Scott Cole. You can read this in churches, but you cannot include it in other works or collections in any publishing format including electronic forms. Others cannot sell this story.

Our answer is God. God's answer is us. Together we make the world better.

Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy.

Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.

Author and books

Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love.

The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.

Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.